5 Steps for Achieving Goals

You’ve had time to work on some goals, and opportunities to do something different this year over these past few weeks. Hopefully, you have taken steps in the right direction towards the changes you want to see!

But if you haven’t, it’s okay. We have all been there. But, we don’t have to stay there!

I have learned a secret: if nothing changes, nothing changes.

In other words, if we do not intentionally change something we do daily or weekly, the results we are receiving will not change. If we do not change our routines or habits that could aid in accomplishing our goals, we will be standing at the end of the year wondering where did the time go?

Here are some things to ponder:

· Time is going to continue to press forward.

· Being busy is not an excuse.

· It is not going to happen overnight.

I have learned from my own personal experience that if I want to achieve my goals for the year, then I need to create actionable steps and habits in my weekly schedule to give me the results I want to see!

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn

Here are 5 steps for you to accomplish your goals:

1. Decide what you want.

I know it may sound simple, but this practice is to help bring some clarity to your own soul. What is it that you want to accomplish this year?

· Do you want to go back to school?

· Do you want to buy a home?

· Do you want to try a new career?

· Do you want to read more books?

· Do you want to get into the best physical shape of your life?

· Do you want more of God in your life?

Give yourself a fair chance to win. You cannot hit a target that has not been identified.

2. Write it down.

Right? Again, another simple practice, but lots of people never take the time down to write down what they want to accomplish.

Did you know that people who write down their goals on paper (or digital format) are more than likely to accomplish their goals? It’s true! Great men and women have practiced writing down thoughts and ideas for hundreds of years.

Even the books and letters of the Bible are here today because the authors WROTE IT DOWN!

“When you write things down, they sometimes take you places you hadn’t planned.” – Melanie Benjamin

Pull out a sheet of paper. Buy a journal. Open your laptop. Use the notes feature on your iPhone.

3. Share it with someone.

Okay, I know this makes you a bit vulnerable to others. You are sharing things with someone that might be a bit personal. But, I would encourage you to share your goals with someone you trust and someone that believes in you. Also, if it’s really private, then use discretion.

The goal here is not to spread TMI (too much information), but to create a healthy accountability for you. When others know what we desire to do or should be doing, it helps us to strive for the prize.

As long as you keep it private, you may not feel the healthy “pressure” to make it happen. And here’s the bonus: it’s not for them, but it’s for YOU!

4. Schedule it into your calendar.

Let’s say you desire to read more books this year. Okay, what books specifically? And when you have selected your books, which book will you read first? And once you have your first book, what part of the day or which days will you schedule some reading time?

I know – not all are scheduled people. But the point here is to say that if it’s not on the schedule, it doesn’t exist. If we don’t create space to achieve the habit required to meet the goal, we will not reach the goal. Plain and simple.

You are worth it.

You may not feel like those small changes in your daily routine are making a difference, but trust me, they do! Small changes daily are magnified over time.

5. Review periodically.

Now, here is where discipline really comes in – at the end of the month or every quarter, review your progress.

Personally, I check my personal and professional goals every month. I want to know how I am doing.

Just like we check the scoreboard at football games to know who is winning, your year needs a scoreboard to know if you are down or up. If you are down, make adjustments. If you are up, keep doing what you are doing.